Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!
Happy First Day of October, Everyone!
Today I have such a gorgeous book to share that I can’t wait to show it to you! I encourage you all to read it if you can. Writers, especially, will find this book a shining example of how to say so much with so little.
Get ready to have your socks blown off!
Title: Wishes
Written By: Mượn Thị Văn
Illustrated By: Victo Ngai
Publisher: Orchard Books, May 2021, reality-based fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: immigration, family, home, resilience
Opening: “The night wished it was quieter.”
Brief Synopsis: A young Vietnamese girl must leave behind her home and everything she knows to find hope for a better life.
Links To Resources: the back of the book includes a note from the author about her own journey from Vietnam, as well as a note from the illustrator describing how she went about crafting her illustrations; if you had to leave home, what would you wish for? discuss, draw, or write a story or poem; what do you think would be the hardest thing to leave behind if you had to leave home? what would you want to be sure you brought with you?
Why I Like This Book: This is the kind of gorgeous, poignant book that makes your heart full. With only 75 words, the author conveys such a depth of emotion and story. With true picture book perfection, the illustrations tell as much of the story as the words, beautifully expanding the reader’s understanding of exactly what is happening and the strength it demands from the characters. The majority of young readers (thankfully) will never have experienced this particular kind of hardship, but it is so important for them to understand that life experiences are different for everyone and that many of them require strength, resilience, effort, and hope. A beautiful, thought-provoking, heart-stirring book that young readers will gain a lot from.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
WOW! That is such a poignant story and gorgeous illustrations. That trailer is powerful. I have it on hold and look forward to reading it. Thank you Susanna!
We need more books like this one! Thank you for sharing it, Susanna.
Thank you, Susanna, for showcasing this beautifully told story.
I wish this had been on the bookshelves during the 70’s and 80’s while the Vietnamese children who were displaced from their homeland to come here were growing up. But now it is!
Minimal word books are so compelling. Beautiful book!
I’ve read Wishes & have a review ready to post in early November. So happy to read your review – this poignant & powerful picture book truly is a Must Read.
Stunning illustrations! I can’t wait to read this one! Thanks for sharing Susanna!
socks officially knocked off! We need more books like this, for sure. What a wonderful storytelling voice.
Gorgeous!
This is such a beautiful book and a poignant story. Thanks for featuring it, Susanna!
So glad to learn about this book! I’ve ordered it for my daughter’s school library.
What a gorgeous and important book! So few books written about Vietnamese refugees. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! Loved your review!
The illustrations are stunning and the story is important. I would love to read WISHES. Great review.
This book sounds lovely, and such an important story.